SUNY Awards Nursing Student $10,000 for Psychiatric Care Studies

The State University of New York selected five students in October to support the next generation of mental health workers. These awards aim to prepare New York’s workforce to provide trauma-informed care to local communities.

Stony Brook University senior Sora Ke was named one of the Scholars for Mental Health. She is completing her degree in the School of Nursing Basic Baccalaureate Program. The selection recognizes her leadership and dedication to the mental health field.

Ke will receive $10,000 from the Voya Foundation to fund her academic work in psychiatric nursing. The program builds on SUNY’s efforts to create community-based support systems. It seeks to expand equitable access to mental health care that is culturally responsive.

Ke expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue her education. "I am honored to be named a Scholar for Mental Health, and I am incredibly grateful to the Voya Foundation for investing in my education," she said.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. stated that the system is strengthening resources to serve New Yorkers. He described the new scholars as the next generation of practitioners who will support mental health initiatives across the state.

The award was announced as part of a broader effort to bolster the mental health field. The program specifically targets the creation of support systems that serve diverse populations within the state's university network.